A little update with my defective MTE P7. I removed the tail cap, took it apart and found some solder that had split. I fixed it, but it's still not functioning. The light will flash every few clicks when depressing the clicky switch, but will not stay on. This is extremely upsetting

My P7, batteries and charger arrived from DX. For those interested in delivery time, I ordered on 11/18, and received the order on 12/05.

My impression at first was an epiphany of sorts, in that did not seem possible that so much light was coming from such a small hand held light. While riding a bike, the P7 gives you the impression that you have a car or motorcycle headlight on, and lights up the road similarly. I consider the medium setting easily sufficient for city driving, and the 'high setting' I consider almost like turning on 'high beams' on a car. I would probably not turn on the high setting on a normal road, for fear of blinding oncoming traffic. For a rural road with no street lights, or an off-road setting, the P7 in 'high mode' seems ideal. My 'night kit' now consists of the following:

Headlight: P7 (5-mode)
Tail light: Mars 3.0
Reflective 3M tape on the bike
Reflective 3M 'blinkie' armband
Reflective orange and yellow vest (I only wear this in the worst conditions)

I feel that one thing I may want to add is a 2nd rear blinkie, which for me will probably be the Mars 4.0, and would completely satisfy me as far as night time visibility.

TR-801 is comparable to L2D. I have both, TR-801 is maybe 20 lumens brighter and more throw-ey, but it is less than half the output of either of my 5-mode P7s.

The L2D is pretty floody, in fact my P7s out-throw it slightly (and my P7s are really floody). The TR-801 is better as a helmet light than the L2D as the spot is a little more intense.

I received my lights from DX in 2 weeks and they are amazing. I mounted the Cree to my helmet, and the P7 on the bar. My riding has been limited to the road, and I can't wait to get in the woods. Thanks to all in this Forum!

TrustFire TR-801 Cree Q5-WC 5-Mode Memory
MTE "P7-D" SSC P7-C 5-Mode Memory 900-Lumen

My P7 (MTE 5 mode DX 12060) took eleven days from order to receipt, and I just got it out on its first ride this morning.

On medium, it's a good bit brighter than my upgraded Minewt USB (U bin P4). On high, it's really, really bright. Mine has a pretty bright hot spot in the center, with tons and tons of spill. I really noticed the hot spot since I had it mounted on my helmet, and it turned out to be at too low of an angle, so it was pointing at the road about 10 feet in front of my bike. I'll have to figure out how to attach it so that it's pointing higher.

I just used a Livestrong type band to secure it to my helmet, but I think I'll have to use the inner tube method instead to mount it farther back on the helmet. I'll also have to pad it with pieces of tube because it did switch modes on me once during the 90 minute ride.

I really wish I'd just gotten the two mode in the same housing, as the low and strobe modes are really useless to me.

P7 = bright, really really bright. By far the brightest light in my group today.

What's the runtime on high?

I ran it for the first 25 minutes on medium and then switched to high for another 65 minutes; never noticed it dimming at all. I've not done a run test, but others have reported 70-90 minutes on high before noticeable dimming. I'm using the 2500mah blue Trustfires.

My sku 16092 MTE has ran 6X now continuously in excess of 75 mins on high (4 of these were 83-86 mins, also on high). It was probably getting dimmer towards the end but I didn't notice - didn't seem to dim much, really.

Used trustfire 2500 mah, which are probably really only 2000-2200mah.

The DX description of "2800mA current output regulated" is clearly not true. Probably closer to an average 1600ma based on these 6 rides.

I think I'll get a 13060 and use the 3hz mode with a red lens for a tailight. The color produced is actually an orange shade. In side-by-side test using 16092 on fast stobe. it completely overwhelms the 3 PB Super Flashes I've been using. Can hardly see the 3xPBSF looking at them next to the 16092.

https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16092

You know, knock-off flashlights are one thing, but I don't think I'll be shopping DX for these any time soon:

https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.17864

Have they always been in this business, or have I not been paying attention?

It's odd that they sell condoms. It's even more odd that they have pics measuring them with those digital calipers.

Anyway, I ordered a P7 (sku 12060), 4 batteries, and a charger on Sunday and they shipped today. Hopefully I'll have something to back up my NiteRider TrailRat in a couple of weeks.

Has anyone mounted this flashlight to their helmet? I'm wondering how bulky/heavy it is. I'll probably mount it to the bar with a lockblock, since I never liked the weight of my NiteRider on my helmet.

https://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12060

I've used a lockblock in an unconventional fashion to attach a Fenix L2D onto a Giro Atlas II. Appeared to work okay, though I didn't ride test it because I chose to use my old PB Blaze instead. Its helmet mount hardware is really slick and solid.

Bruce, I've mounted that light to my helmet using a Livestrong type band. I didn't notice the weight at all, at least when I had snugged up the helmet. At first it was pointed too low, but I slipped a wine cork under the front of the light and now it's aimed just about perfect. The cork is mounted like in this thread.

Which red lens are you using? I've been thinking about doing this for months, but still haven't. I've used 13060 since September on my nightly rides and it's never let me down, so if it's decent with a lens, I might just buy another.

I grabbed the first piece of red plastic i could find for the quick test - a lens off an old cateye tail light, which was wide enough to cover the 40mm diam lens.

Obviously a nice round 41 mm lens would be better, ideally one with threads to fit the flashlight. I wonder if there are any useful inexpensive filters out there in photography world. Hey I think I got a couple that are ~55mm, for the old FILM slr. Maybe I'll try those.

I don't think you'll get a dinotte-like red light regardless of filter you use - the blue component of the P7 lights seems to turn red-filtered light into an orange-ish color. Which is probably OK anyway. And still less then 1/3 cost of a dinotte tail light, with additional benefit that it can be used as a flashlight.

Please let me know if you find anything.

Forgive my ignorance - but if I purchase regulated batteries, I don't need a regulated flashlight, correct?

Thanks for the info, seeker333, and yes, I'll update if I get good results.

No prob; Ziemas covered this:

Update on my broken P7 (dropped):

I played around with a voltmeter and a wire, and managed to pinpoint the problem. It's either the driver circuit board, or one of the wires that connect the circuit board to the LED. I bypassed it with a wire and the LED lit up fine. Unfortunately I can't get at the problem because the whole assembly soldered into the brass heatsink.

You could buy a new driver from dealextreme if you wanted. They're like $4. You'd need to rig it up outside the flashlight, though, if you can't get the old one out.

I can buy a soldering iron, but which circuit board should I get?

The P7 page says:
3.7V ~ 50mA (low) ~ 2000mA(High)
4.2V ~ 70mA (low) ~3200mA(High)

The circuit board with the highest output on Dealextreme.com is 1A.

thank you, i found the perfect gift for the girlfreind this xmas.

The threads on the page for the emitter (https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12721) discuss alternate means, however.

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/...d.php?t=201392 Apparently, you can still get 2.8A through the 7135 driver?

Has anyone compared the:
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.16501
to the many many models 2, 5 or 8 mode P7s that claim 900 lumens.

I hadn't yet found this forum when I bought my MTE M3-2 Cree MC-E 8-Mode 700-Lumen LED Flashlight with Assault Crown (1*18650), the trustfire charger and trustfire protected 18650s.

I've ridden in total dark and love the output. I can now ride comfortably at 18 - 20 MPH on my commute where before with my Cateye head light I had to strain my eyes hoping to see something in the road before it was too late to react. The Cateye was good for being seen in strobe mode, but now "I" can see.

Now I ordered a Shiningbeam L-Mini 18650 Cree Q5 Flashlight "Version 3" Black $31.90 for a helmet mounted light. It'll be easier to point the light where I want it than turning the handle bars.

"Let there be light!"
jw

I have a P7 and an MC-E. The MC-E has a slightly brighter hotspot but I can't tell the difference when riding.

I may order this:
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1879 18650 Rechargeable Lithium
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13060 P7
https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3499 18650 Digital Battery Charger

Any critiques? I appreciate any help.

600mA charger for a 2400mAh 18650 will take a lot of time.